The 12th Seanad was in office from 1969 to 1973. An election to Seanad Éireann, the Senate of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), followed the 1969 general election to the 19th Dáil. The senators served until the close of poll for the 13th Seanad in 1973.

Composition of the 12th Seanad

There are a total of 60 seats in the Seanad: 43 were elected on five vocational panels, 6 were elected from two university constituencies and 11 were nominated by the Taoiseach.

The following table shows the composition by party when the 12th Seanad first met on 5 November 1969.

OriginPartyVocational panelsNUIDUNominatedTotal
AdminAgriCult & EducInd & CommLabour
Fianna Fáil3434400927
Fine Gael3523300016
Labour Party010131006
Independent1101123211
Total7115911331160

Cathaoirleach

On 5 November 1969, Michael Yeats (FF) was proposed for the position of Cathaoirleach by Thomas Mullins (FF) and seconded by John J. Nash (FF). He was elected with Mary Robinson (Ind) and Owen Sheehy-Skeffington (Ind) dissenting.

On 12 November 1969, James Dooge (FG) was proposed for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach by Michael O'Higgins (FG) and seconded by Charles McDonald (FG). He was elected unopposed.

On 1 January 1973, Yeats resigned as Cathaoirleach on his appointment as a member of the Irish delegation in the European Parliament. On 1 January 1973, in the election of a new Cathaoirleach, Micheál Cranitch (FF) was proposed Thomas Mullins (FF) and seconded by Kit Ahern (FF). James Dooge was proposed by Michael O'Higgins (FG) and seconded by Charles McDonald (FG). Cranitch was elected by a vote of 28 to 14.

List of senators

  • Note: The entries for Senators who were elected or appointed to fill vacancies are shown in italics
NamePanelPartyNotes
Liam AhernAdministrative PanelFianna FáilElected to the 20th Dáil at the general election on 28 February 1973
Richard BeltonAdministrative PanelFine Gael
Patrick FitzsimonsAdministrative PanelIndependent
Jack GarrettAdministrative PanelFianna Fáil
Patrick MaloneAdministrative PanelFine GaelElected to the 19th Dáil at a by-election on 14 April 1970
Patrick NortonAdministrative PanelFianna Fáil
Patrick J. ReynoldsAdministrative PanelFine GaelElected to the 20th Dáil at the general election on 28 February 1973
Seán KeeganAdministrative PanelFianna FáilElected to Seanad at a by-election on 16 June 1970, replacing Patrick Malone
Pierce ButlerAgricultural PanelFine Gael
John DoyleAgricultural PanelFianna Fáil
Jack FitzgeraldAgricultural PanelLabour
John MannionAgricultural PanelFine Gael
James MartinAgricultural PanelFianna FáilDied on 3 October 1969
Charles McDonaldAgricultural PanelFine GaelElected to the 20th Dáil at the general election on 28 February 1973
Patrick McGowanAgricultural PanelFianna Fáil
Andy O'BrienAgricultural PanelFine Gael
Micheál PrendergastAgricultural PanelFine Gael
Patrick W. RyanAgricultural PanelIndependent
William RyanAgricultural PanelFianna Fáil
Cornelius O'CallaghanAgricultural PanelFianna FáilElected to Seanad at a by-election on 24 February 1970, replacing James Martin
Kit AhernCultural and Educational PanelFianna Fáil
John KellyCultural and Educational PanelFine GaelElected to the 20th Dáil at the general election on 28 February 1973
John J. NashCultural and Educational PanelFianna Fáil
Michael O'HigginsCultural and Educational PanelFine Gael
Michael YeatsCultural and Educational PanelFianna Fáil
Ruairí BrughaIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna FáilElected to the 20th Dáil at the general election on 28 February 1973
Eileen DesmondIndustrial and Commercial PanelLabourElected to the 20th Dáil at the general election on 28 February 1973
James DoogeIndustrial and Commercial PanelFine Gael
Denis FarrellyIndustrial and Commercial PanelFine Gael
Alexis FitzGeraldIndustrial and Commercial PanelFine Gael
Dermot HonanIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna Fáil
Bernard McGlincheyIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna Fáil
Ted RussellIndustrial and Commercial PanelIndependent
Eoin RyanIndustrial and Commercial PanelFianna Fáil
John BolandLabour PanelFine Gael
Seán BrosnahanLabour PanelIndependent
Jimmy DunneLabour PanelLabourDied on 23 February 1972
Joseph FarrellLabour PanelFianna FáilElected to the 20th Dáil at the general election on 28 February 1973
Des HanafinLabour PanelFianna Fáil
Fintan KennedyLabour PanelLabour
Mark KillileaLabour PanelFianna Fáil
Michael LyonsLabour PanelFine Gael
William O'BrienLabour PanelFine Gael
Evelyn OwensLabour PanelLabour
Seán WalshLabour PanelFianna FáilElected to the 20th Dáil at the general election on 28 February 1973
Bryan AltonNational University of IrelandIndependent
John HorganNational University of IrelandLabour
Patrick QuinlanNational University of IrelandIndependent
William J. E. JessopDublin UniversityIndependent
Mary BourkeDublin UniversityIndependent
Owen Sheehy-SkeffingtonDublin UniversityIndependentDied on 7 June 1970
Trevor WestDublin UniversityIndependentElected to Seanad at a by-election on 19 November 1970, replacing Owen Sheehy-Skeffington
John J. BrennanNominated by the TaoiseachFianna Fáil
Micheál CranitchNominated by the TaoiseachFianna Fáil
Brendan CrinionNominated by the TaoiseachFianna FáilElected to the 20th Dáil at the general election on 28 February 1973
Peggy FarrellNominated by the TaoiseachFianna Fáil
Thomas FlanaganNominated by the TaoiseachIndependent
Michael GallanaghNominated by the TaoiseachFianna Fáil
Neville KeeryNominated by the TaoiseachFianna Fáil
Farrell McElgunnNominated by the TaoiseachFianna Fáil
Thomas MullinsNominated by the TaoiseachFianna Fáil
Terence O'SullivanNominated by the TaoiseachFianna Fáil
William SheldonNominated by the TaoiseachIndependent

Changes

DatePanelLossGainNote
3 October 1969Agricultural PanelFianna FáilDeath of James Martin
24 February 1970Agricultural PanelFianna FáilCornelius O'Callaghan elected at a by-election to succeed James Martin
14 April 1970Administrative PanelFine GaelPatrick Malone elected to Dáil Éireann at a by-election
7 June 1970Dublin UniversityIndependentDeath of Owen Sheehy-Skeffington
16 June 1970Administrative PanelFianna FáilSeán Keegan elected at a by-election to succeed Patrick Malone
19 November 1970Dublin UniversityIndependentTrevor West elected at a by-election to succeed Owen Sheehy-Skeffington
23 February 1972Labour PanelLabourDeath of Jimmy Dunne
28 February 1973Administrative PanelFianna FáilLiam Ahern elected to the 20th Dáil at the 1973 general election
28 February 1973Industrial and Commercial PanelFianna FáilRuairí Brugha elected to the 20th Dáil at the 1973 general election
28 February 1973Nominated by the TaoiseachFianna FáilBrendan Crinion elected to the 20th Dáil at the 1973 general election
28 February 1973Industrial and Commercial PanelFianna FáilEileen Desmond elected to the 20th Dáil at the 1973 general election
28 February 1973Labour PanelFianna FáilJoseph Farrell elected to the 20th Dáil at the 1973 general election
28 February 1973Cultural and Educational PanelFianna FáilJohn Kelly elected to the 20th Dáil at the 1973 general election
28 February 1973Agricultural PanelFianna FáilCharles McDonald elected to the 20th Dáil at the 1973 general election
28 February 1973Administrative PanelFianna FáilPatrick J. Reynolds elected to the 20th Dáil at the 1973 general election
28 February 1973Labour PanelFianna FáilSeán Walsh elected to the 20th Dáil at the 1973 general election

External links

  • . Oireachtas Members Database.
  • . Oireachtas Debates.